I was young, ambitious, and just finishing my master’s in international business when I got the invitation—travel to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan to help present a proposal for bus sales. It was the kind of opportunity I had dreamed about.

But I’ll be honest... I wasn’t prepared.

I didn’t pause to consider how different their culture might be. My suitcase was packed with what I liked to wear—including a sleeveless top. I thought I was being bold. In reality, I was being naive.

Thank the Lord something whispered to me: Don’t wear that.

That’s when I picked up the book Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands. It’s a business traveler’s guide to understanding culture across more than 60 countries. That book humbled me. It helped me see how much I didn’t know. And years later, it still sits on my shelf—dog-eared and marked up—because it reminds me of one of the most important lessons of my life.

Culture matters. Respect matters.

I didn’t end up in international business long term. In fact, that dream shifted after I flunked out of law school and later became a pastor’s wife and homeschooling mom. Life has a funny way of rerouting you. But that seed—understanding how culture affects connection—took root in me.

Now, as the founder of Nifty Package Co., it shows up in everything we wrap and when you gift wrap or prepare a gift basket, keep these things in mind. 

We’ve made gifts for Muslim leaders, Indian weddings, Jewish families, Asian CEOs, and good old-fashioned American birthdays. Each time, we ask: What’s appropriate for their culture? What’s meaningful? What should we avoid?

Because gifting isn’t about us—it’s about them.

That’s become a core philosophy here at Nifty: The gift is always about the person receiving it, never the person giving it.

Soon I’ll be sharing a full blog post with tips on how to gift respectfully across cultures—colors to avoid, symbols to use carefully, and ways to show love in a way that’s understood globally.

But today, I just wanted to remind you that wisdom often begins with humility. That moment years ago in Uzbekistan changed me. And it’s why, to this day, we never just “wrap a gift.”

We study. We ask. We honor.

Because every culture deserves dignity. Every person deserves to feel seen.

And sometimes, that starts with putting the sleeveless top back in the suitcase.

With love and learning,

~Michelle